Slant community chat on Discourse| 14 Recommended Products | Recommendations | Impedance | Frequency range | Microphone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 JBuds J4· · · | 20 | 2 | 16 Ohm | 20 - 20000 Hz | Optional |
| #2 Shure SE215· · · | 11 | 0 | 17 Ω | 22 - 17500 Hz | Optional |
| #3 Jabra VOX· · · | 10 | 1 | 16 Ohm | 20 - 20000 Hz | Yes |
| #4 Sennheiser IE80· · · | 5 | 0 | 16 Ω | 10Hz - 20kHz | – |
| #5 Klipsch Image S4i Rugged· · · | 5 | 0 | 18 Ohm | 10 - 19000 Hz | Yes |
| #6 Sennheiser IE 800· · · | 2 | 0 | 16 Ohm | 5 - 46500 Hz | Optional |
Pro Durable Kevlar-reinforced flat cables with strain relief
J4 cables are reinforced with kevlar to resist breakage. The flat design helps prevent kinks, as the cable coils rather than twisting or bunching. Also, tough and flexible reinforced exoskeletons protect the cable connections and joints.
Pro Heavy-duty aluminum housing
JBuds J4 components are protected by rigid aluminum cylinders, capped with aluminum grills.
Pro Detailed sounding highs with punchy bass
These headphones are quite bass heavy, with bass that is very punchy and fast, so it does not muddy up the music. The mids are slightly recessed, though the vocals can still be quite clearly heard as the bass does not overpower it. Highs on the other hand sound pretty good with these headphones as...
Con Heavy wires generate noise
The J4's thick cables carry sound like a stethoscope, including the sound of the cables themselves moving and rubbing against things. This can be particularly bad while walking or running.
Con Significant defect rate
Although the J4s are built to be durable, many users report them breaking down after 1-3 months of light use.
Con No volume control
The J4s come with a mic and control switch, but no built-in volume control.
Pro Rich, full sound with boosted bass and forward mids
An overall full sounding pair of earphones. Bass is emphasized to give a bit of a thump while remaining well controlled. Mids are rich; highs avoid sibilance, though they're a bit rolled off. Soundstage is okay--instruments are separated out enough for them to not sound like they're all co...
Pro Outstanding build quality makes them long lasting
SE215 earbuds use tough plastic earpiece shells, have a robust kevlar-reinforced cable, a sturdy Y-splitter that's difficult to bend and an L-shaped plug that adds additional strain relief. They won't break if you snag them, drop them or sit on them. They're also completely sweat proof...
Con Need some time getting used to
However, it may take some getting used to memory cables and there's a bit of a learning curve to putting the earphones in with memory eartips. At first memory cables may seem a bit stiff, but after they're broken in, they're generally more comfortable than typical wires. There's ev...
Con Inline mic and volume controls cost an extra $50
The supplied detachable cable does not have a mic or inline volume controls. They can be added by upgrading to the M+ cable.
Pro Handles music with deep bass exceptionally well
Jabra VOX can play forceful, high-volume bass without distortion.
Pro Tested against 33lbs of pull force
The Jabra VOX cables are rated for 15kg of pull force, or slightly over 33 lbs.
Con Bass heavy
These earbuds are great for those who are looking for good bass, but higher frequencies aren't very clear.
Pro Audiophile-grade sound quality
The main reason to get the IE80 is the excellent soundstage that you won't get with cheaper earbuds. The soundstage is wide and balanced with instruments clearly separated, allowing you to easily identify their position. It creates a very immersive sound. The sound signature is great overall w...
Pro Built to last you a long time
IE80 earbuds use high-quality kevlar-reinforced cables with a thick rubber strain relief and the earpiece shells have brushed metal plating. A strong connector holds detachable cables in place. Additional strain reliefis added by the L-shaped plug. These earphones are built to last and if there are...
Con Replacement cables are expensive as well
If you need to replace the cables, they retail for about $20.
Con Rather expensive
While these are among the cheapest audiophile-grade earphones, they're still priced at $250. It's a serious investment. And for many, just not worth it.
Pro Crisp treble and solid bass
Klipsch S4 earphones have excellent response at both the high and low ends of the audible spectrum, providing clean and undistorted sound.
Pro Numerous controls accessed with 3 buttons
The S4i's buttons recognize combination presses, tap patterns and held buttons, allowing access to many features: call answering, voice control, song titles, etc. These controls are intended for use with iPhones.
Con Controls are designed for Apple products
The built in controls are only guaranteed to work with iPhone 3GS and onward. (The Klipsch S4a, designed for Android devices, does not have a rugged version.)
Pro Oxygen-free, kevlar-reinforced copper cable
Wrapped and sealed in an oxygen-free environment, these cables are immune to corrosion so long as their tough kevlar shielding remains intact.
Pro Good noise isolation
The IE 800s allow some ambient sound to pass, but not enough to be bothersome.
Con Cables not detachable from earpieces
The IE 800 cables are soldered into the earpieces. There is a jack where left and right cables come together, and the remainder of the cable can be replaced, but damage above the split is not user-repairable.
Pro Cables won't tangle or break easily as they are braided and sleeved
The M2's cables are braided, and then covered with a sleeving material. This makes the cable significantly more durable than other cables. Also, the cables do not have a lot of memory, which means that they are not likely to tangle.
Pro Warm sounding headphones with forward mids, smooth highs and deep bass
The highs of these headphones are not too sparkly or airy, yet still has good detail. This quality gives the in-ears a smoother sound. The mids are forward and clear, while the bass has good depth without creeping up on the mids. Overall, these headphones are quite fun to listen to and can work wi...
Con No in-line microphone
Not really a con, as headphones are primarily for music listening. However, this can be inconvenient when used with a smartphone and you have to take calls.
Con Highs may be lacking for some
The highs lack in sparkle or air up the higher frequency range. Those looking for a lot of detail reproduction from the headphones that they use may find this one to be lacking in the highs department.
Pro Very comfortable for everyday/casual use
The earbuds are light and small with an angled nozzle, fitting most ears comfortably. It's comfortable to wear both over and under-ear.
Pro Will last you a long time
V1S earphones have a metal housing, strong rubber wires and a durable rubber stress relief to make sure that the earbuds last. However, they aren't water resistant.
Con Not a good option to use for exercising.
Along with not being sweat-resistant, they tend to slightly move around in your ear regardless of chosen eartips. This can be distracting.
Pro Engineered to work long term
While some sets of earphones are manufactured to break quickly, these are made to last. While there are no outstanding qualities about their build (like kevlar reinforcement), they still meet expectations about how long earphones should last.
Con Dysfunctional cable splitter
The cable parts below and above the splitter, potentially causing unnecessary stray cables.
Pro Smooth, rich bass
These earphones are known for their excellent bass, and present a balanced sound overall.
Pro Water resistant
Every component with these earphones is water resistant. These have an IPX-3 weather resistant rating, meaning that they are essentially splash proof but shouldn't be submerged.
Con Ear sweat buildup
Users have reported difficulties when using these during exercise.
Con Too much treble
Some find the ADV ALPHA high-end frequency response to be overbalanced.
Pro Engineered for exercise
The SoundSport earpieces are designed to stay in when running or performing other intense activity.
Pro Choice of color (iOS only)
SoundSport earbuds with iOS controls are available in blue, green and orange. The Samsung Galaxy (Android) model comes only in green.
Con No ambient sound isolation
By design, these earbuds do not obstruct outside sound, making them inappropriate for use when isolation is desirable.
Pro Warranty supported after over a decade and a half
There are tons of stories from customers that talk about how they supported their warranty after decades with no receipt, at only the cost of shipping and handling. Koss really means it when they say lifetime warranty.
Know any negative aspects of this option?
Pro Sustainable design
GrizzlyBuds are committed to reducing consumer waste. Each part can be individually replaced, meaning that no working parts need to be thrown away if just one piece breaks.
Pro Extremely durable
Replaceable parts aside, GrizzlyBuds are built not to break in the first place. Earphone components are housed in aluminum cylinders, and the cable is reinforced with kevlar.
Con No option for controls or mic
Despite a replaceable cable, GrizzlyBuds does not offer anything beyond basic headphone function.
Con Sketchy company
These originally appeared on Kickstarter as "IRONBuds", for which the company never delivered on their promised product. What they did deliver suffered from poor construction quality, and looks exactly like what is pictured here. The custom components that allow the parts to be swappable...
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